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Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

Wayne County Circuit Judge Wade McCree did not intend to demean anyone who has appeared in his courtroom, but instead meant to flatter a woman with whom he had an affair, according to his response to a formal complaint from the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission that was made public Thursday.

The commission has accused McCree of sexting from the bench with Geniene La'Shay Mott, a complaining witness in a child support case involving Robert King, the father of her child, that was before McCree.

"C'mon, U'r talking about the 'docket from hell,' filled w/tatted up, overweight, half-ass English speaking, gap tooth skank hoes ... and then you walk in," McCree allegedly wrote in a text to Mott from the bench.

McCree's response acknowledged such a message "may have" been sent, but not while the judge was on the bench.

"The text message was sent in an effort to flatter Ms. Mott and was not intended to demean any person who had appeared in his courtroom," the response from McCree said.

McCree's attorney, Brian Einhorn, has said McCree should have recused himself from a hearing in King's case last August because it occurred during the time that he had a relationship with Mott. The sexual relationship began in June, according to the response released Thursday.

"Judge McCree admits that his failure to recuse himself from participating in the King case after he began his relationship with Ms. Mott constituted misconduct in the office," the response said.

The tenure commission's formal complaint filed earlier this month also accused McCree of discussing King's case with Mott and having sex with her in his judicial chambers.

"Judge McCree admits that he made the unfortunate decision to engage in a sexual relationship with Ms. Mott and also admits that on a few occasions, the relationship took place in his chambers," the response said.

Einhorn has acknowledged that it was wrong of McCree to have an affair, adding "that's a moral issue ... not a legal issue."

The response said the relationship didn't impact McCree's decisions in the case, later transferred to another judge.

The commission accused McCree of false report of a felony, improper bench conduct and demeanor and misrepresentations to the commission. Einhorn told the Free Press this month that he doesn't think those allegations will be supported.

McCree has been suspended without pay from his job and could face public censure, suspension or removal from office if he is sanctioned, officials said.

He was previously censured for sending a shirtless photo to a Wayne County Sheriff's Office employee last year.

The commission asked the Michigan Supreme Court to appoint a master -- usually a retired judge who takes a role similar to that of a trial judge -- to preside over a formal hearing.